JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's Section 3-AAAA slate began in heartbreaking fashion Friday night.

The Raiders boys basektball team watched a 40-31 fourth-quarter lead melt away before dropping a 57-52, double-overtime decision to Central Catholic.

“A nine-point lead in the fourth quarter in a section game at home? I'll take that any day,” said Raiders coach Victor Giannotta. “But we panicked down the stretch.”

Seneca Valley's Christian Durbin had a chance to end the game in the first overtime, but his 3-pointer from the left corner didn't fall as time expired with the score knotted at 46.

The Vikings (3-1, 1-0) took control in the second overtime, opening a six-point lead with a minute left.

Baskets by Durbin and Pat Kulp were sandwiched around a Central Catholic turnover as the Raiders pulled to within two points.

But a dunk by the Vikings' Claude Scott with 15 seconds left was followed by an SV turnover, effectively ending the game.

“I just thought we came out with more energy in the overtime,” said Vikings coach Chuck Crummie. “It took us a while. It just seemed to be one of those nights when we needed motivation.”

Things didn't look good for the Vikings with 3:30 left in regulation, as the Raiders held a 40-31 edge after an 11-1 run in the first 4:30 of the fourth quarter.

Scott completed a conventional three-point play, sparking Central's comeback, but Durbin's two free throws gave SV (2-1, 0-1) a 44-41 edge with six seconds left.

After a Vikings timeout, they got the ball into the hands of junior guard Lincoln Davis, who dribbled past halfcourt before firing a 3-point shot from near the top of the key.

The shot went through the basket as the buzzer sounded, tying the game at 44. It was Davis' fourth trifecta of the night.

“That shot gave us momentum and I think it deflated Seneca a bit,” said Crummie.

“We should have fouled before he got that shot off,” said Giannotta. “This loss is on me.”

Central averaged 62 points through its first three games, but its offense struggled for much of the night against SV.

“(The Raiders) played a zone and we're not comfortable against a zone,” said Crummie. “They controlled the tempo for 80 percent of the game, but in that second overtime, our intensity went to the roof.”

Davis led all scorers with 25 points and he had eight rebounds. Scott had 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.

Durbin paced Seneca Valley with 20 points and Beau Barclay contributed 10.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 57Christian Joiner 1 0-0 2, Eric Urda 1 0-0 2, Nolan Doyle 0 3-5 3, Mike Anselmo 1 2-2 5, Claude Scott 7 2-3 16, Lincoln Davis 8 5-14 25, Dave Urso 1 0-0 2, Justin Ford 1 0-0 2, Peter Kusch 0 0-0 0, Sam Calhoun 0 0-0 0, Joe Marchione 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 20 12-24 57.

SENECA VALLEY 52Matt Smith 3 0-0 8, Easton Bazzoli 2 0-1 4, Beau Barclay 5 0-0 10, Christian Durbin 6 8-8 20, Chad Albert 1 0-0 2, Pat Kulp 1 0-0 2, Alex Maxfield 1 0-0 2, Austin Bream 1 2-2 4.

Totals: 20 10-11 52.

Central Catholic 13 11 6 14 2 11—57Seneca Valley 12 11 6 15 2 6—523-point goals: Central Catholic 5 (Davis 4, Anselmo); Seneca Valley 2 (Smith 2).

Sunday: Seneca Valley at North Catholic